Wednesday, November 12, 2008

GAB Strikes Blow Against Free Speech

Speaking of unelected people vested with far too much power. 

In a move likely to draw a legal challenge, the state’s elections agency voted unanimously Tuesday to require backers of thinly veiled campaign ads to disclose who pays for them.

The Government Accountability Board spent months deliberating whether it can and should regulate so-called “issue ads,” which air during election season but don’t explicitly urge the public to vote for or against a candidate.

On Tuesday the six retired judges who make up the board voted to subject the ads to regulation, the first step in a lengthy process to develop new rules requiring ad backers to register with the board, ban corporate money for the ads and disclose who funds the ads.

Agree with this rule or not (I don’t), why do we tolerate an unelected board making huge decisions like this instead of having them debated by our elected leaders?  The members of the GAB are utterly unaccountable to the voters, yet they are permitted to make sweeping changes to how our political system works.  It’s deplorable government. 

As for the issue itself, anonymous speech - just like all speech - should be protected.  Period.  I would remind all of you anonymous bloggers and commenters out there that the GAB could very easily extend this type of regulation.

(4) Comments
Posted by Owen at 1705 hrs
Law + Politics + Politics - Wisconsin

  1. One little, tiny Federal lawsuit and GAB’s regulations go bye-bye.

    Likely not much more expense than filing costs.

    F^%$ them.

    Posted by dad29 on November 12, 2008 at 2159 hrs


  2. Not to begrudge the legality here, but does this mean we finally get to find out who’s the money behind the Greater Wisconsin Committee then?

    Posted by Kevin Binversie on November 13, 2008 at 0614 hrs


  3. Kevin- Just take a look at the IRS filings.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on November 13, 2008 at 1016 hrs


  4. I agree with the decision and now as one President said: “Marshall has made his decisiosn, now let him try to enforce it”.  This group has proved to be a bunch of complete nuts with the way they do things.  You cannot even find out what happens to complaints.  That is totalitarian in effect.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on November 13, 2008 at 1614 hrs


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